Additional Recommendation After Waitlist

[ggibson]

If a school allows submitting an additional recommendation after being waitlisted, is there any thought as to whether it should come from a professional or personal reference? I know professional recommendations are generally used in the application process (which I did), but now I'm wondering whether a personal reference would be appropriate?

In my case, it would be from a family friend who happens to be a professor in another department at the university. Also, is it inappropriate to submit TWO additional recommendations, if I also have another solid professional reference I can use?

[Jon@Admissionado]

Well, there's no straight up hands-down answer. You got to decide that on the basis of what other elements you submitted and who your other recommenders were. Overall the two most important things I think for an "extra recommendation" are:
1. That it be impressive/excited - if it's not both these things it's not gonna help you out, so make sure it's good
2. New perspective - We don't want to run over the same old ground yet again... show them something NEW about you that might change their minds or convince them that YOU are the one.

[max_roper]

Thanks ggibson... If your application cycle did not return the results you expected, and you are considering an improved recommendation strategy for the next cycle, perhaps taking on a leadership role in an extracurricular activity could be a strategy worth considering. This strategy could enhance your resume and potentially gain an improved letter of recommendation from a compelling organization.

To find such a leadership role, try joining a Board of a local non-profit. Or, consider volunteer business consulting for a non-profit or small business in need. Organizations such as SCORE, Net Impact, USALC, or Taproot could help match you with a social entrepreneur who is passionate about their business goals, but is struggling to achieve them.

Thanks and good luck,

Maxwell Roper
Outreach Director
USA Leadership Corps (USALC)

[money9111]

that previous answer about leadership position was a "spammed" response - fyi.

1. you should not submit 2 recommendations
2. like previously stated, it's your call as to who you use.

Think hard about your application - look over your essays - and then determine which recommender can speak on behalf of you about a side of you that is NOT portrayed in your essays and the things you spoke about in your interview (if you interviewed)

[penpal0]

Well, according to this page on extra recommendations https://www.aringo.com/emails/emailExtraRecs.htm:
"Your extra recommender should shed light on achievements, characteristics or experiences that were not covered in the mandatory recommendations.
For example, good extra recommenders could be:
* A parliament member whom you voluntarily helped during his primary elections campaign.
* A CEO for whom you did some voluntary/paid research a couple years ago.
* A university professor that you worked for as a teaching or research assistant.
* Your boss from a workplace which was not covered in the mandatory recommendations."